Overview

EChOS is a part-time cohort program that prepares working adults to be early childhood educators in public and non-public birth to third grade school settings. EChos is offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels both with certification and non-certification options. A new cohort begins each fall semester. Courses are offered in the evenings at off-campus locations each semester. Students in this program typically take 6-7 credit hours per semester and have the same course requirements as students in the Early Childhood Education Partnership Program. During student teaching, candidates may teach at the preschool level only or at both preschool and kindergarten through third grade levels.

Early Childhood Education at SIUE

In the Early Childhood Education programs at SIUE, classroom teachers and university professors work together to provide Early Childhood Education majors an opportunity to regularly interact with children from birth to grade 3. This state-of-the-art program addresses the standards set by both the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, as well as standards set by the Illinois State Board of Education. Students in the Early Childhood program can easily take two additional courses to earn an Early Childhood Special Education letter of approval.

In addition, the EChOS program allows students to complete the undergraduate program while continuing in their present job. This program is part-time, and therefore will not follow the traditional four-year plan.

Career Outlook

Graduates of the EChOS certification program may work in private or public school settings in pre-kindergarten through third grade, early intervention, and as parent educators. Students who pursue the non-certification option may teach only in non-public settings, which do not require teacher certification.